Ticket strip



8, 1 H. FREEDMAN 2,293;oss

TICKET STRIP Filed Jan. 10, 1940. 5 Sheets- Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

Aug.'l8, 1942. H, FREED AN 2,293,055

I TICKET STRIP:

Filed Jan. 10,- 1940 5 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

1 B. H. FREEDMAN 2,293,055

TIGKETSTRIP L Filed Jan. 10,, 1940 3 Shets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 18, 1942 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TICKET STRIP Benjamin H. Freedman, Asbury Park, N. J. Application January 10, 1940, Serial No. 313,156

13 Claims.

plication for patent Serial No. 293,189,f1led September 2, 1939, from amachine such as disclosed in the patent to R. H. Helsel, No. 2,103,720, issued- December 28, 1937, for dispensing a single width ticket of the type heretofore extensively used which approximate one inch in width and two inches in length, formed in a strip with the narrow edges of successive tickets being disposed adjacent to one another.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved ticket strip for use in dispensing a double width ticket having the advantages of the ticket disclosed in my co-pending application for patent aforesaid, from a machine such as disclosed in the Helsel patent aforesaid, for dispensing a single width ticket of the type heretofore conventionally used which approximate one inch in width and two inches in length, which double width ticket strip is folded in half longitudinally of the strip to facilitate passage through such single width ticketdispensin machine, and is'furthermore folded along the division between the adjacent stub areas to aid in weakening such division thereby to facilitate separating one from the other after being dispensed with the ultimate object of having the theatre retain one stub area and the patron receive the other stub area.

It is still another objectof the present invention to provide an improved ticket strip for use in dispensing a double width ticket having the advantages of the ticket disclosed in my aforesaid application for patent from a machine such as disclosed in the aforesaid Helsel patent, for dispensing a single width ticket of the type heretofore conventionally used which approximate one inch in Width and two inches in length, which double width ticket strip is folded along the boundary between the adjacent stub areas, the boundary of any ticket between its stub areas being co-extensive with the like boundary of the adjacent tickets so that when a ticket is dispensed for the admission of a number of,

patrons, and therefore corresponds in length to a multiple equal to the number of patrons for which the ticket is dispensed, the rigidity of the strip is enhanced while the boundary between the stub areas is weakened to aid the doorman in checking the number of patrons for which the pensing a single width ticket, which doublewidth ticket is issued, and also to aid him in separating the stub areas from one another.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved ticket strip for use in dispensing a double width ticket having the advantages of the ticket disclosed in my aforesaid application for patent from a machine such as disclosed in the aforesaid Helsel patent for dispensing a single width ticket, which double Width ticket strip is folded along the boundary dividing the adjacent stub areas, which stub areas are marked in colors clearly distinguishing one from the other so that a watcher or inspector in the lobby of a theatre can quickly spot the door attendant in the improper manipulation of this ticket for the purpose of fraud.

It is still another object of the present invention to'provide an improved ticket strip for use in dispensing a double width ticket having the advantages of the ticket disclosed in my aforesaid application f r patent from a machine such as disclosed in the aforesaid Helsel patent for disticket strip will have a feed pin receiving openingin each stub area so positioned that when folded, such openings will register with one another and consequently a material saving can be effected in the cost of the ticket strip since its thickness can be materially reduced. Attention is here called to the fact that the thickness of the ticket today used which is dispensed through a machine such as the aforesaid Helsel patent is also determined by the resistance to wear and tear when the ticket is advanced through a dispensing machine such as that disclosed in 'the Helsel patent by feed pins cooperating with openings in the ticket itself. In other words, when the ticket is folded over as here contemplated, the thickness or the ticket can bernaterially reduced to possessthe same wea'r'and tear resisting qualities as the single ticket unfolded heretofore in use.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved ticket which contemplates a double width ticket composed of adjacent stub areas folded along the boundary between the stub areas and having perforations in its stub areas which register with one another when folded over.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detail description of specific embodiments of the improved ticket illustrated in theacconiapnying drawings in which Figure 1 is a fragmental section more or less schematically showing a strip of ticket being advanced through a machine made according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental perspective of a ticket made according to the present invention to be dispensed by the machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan of a ticket unfolded made according to the present invention to be dispensed by the machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental section of a machine made according to another embodiment for dispening the ticket constituting the present invention in part;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a ticket made an folded according to the present invention to be dispensed by the machine disclosed in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan of a ticket made according to the present invention unfolded and to be marked and dispensed by the machine illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective of a ticket with a counterfeit detecting symbol formed on the accounting department stub area;

Fig. 8 illustrates diagrammatically ten different types of symbols to be used as counterfeit detecting mediums;

Fig. 9 is a fragmental perspective of a ticket having the counterfeit detecting symbol on both stub areas, with the color of the stub area reserved for the patron and the color of the symbol on the stub area reserved for the theatre indicated as blue;

Fig. 10 is a fragmental plan of another ticket similar to that illustrated in Fig. 9 with the color of the stub area to be reserved for the patron and the color of the symbol on the stub area reserved for the theatre indicated as green;

Fig. 11 is a perspective of a ticket made according to the present invention to be dispensed from a machine such as illustrated in Fig. 4 where the number corresponding to the number of patrons for which the ticket is to be issued alone appears in the last stub area;

Fig. 12 is a fragmental plan of a strip of ticket material prepared with a perforated line along its center dividing the strip into two stub areas having different colors, and in addition, having symbols printed on the stub areas reserved for the theatre;

Fig. 13 is a fragmental plan of a strip of ticket material prepared as indicated in Fig. 12 after it has been passed through a printing press to receive the name of the theatre and serial number; and

Fig. 14 is a fragmental plan of a strip of ticket material showing the symbols not in registration with the unit ticket areas.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 1 is similar to the first embodiment of the dispensing machine illustrated in my co-pending application Serial No. 293,169, according to which a strip I of tickets is initially pre-folded along the division or boundary 2 preferably perforated, but at any rate prepared for folding or subsequent tearing, defining the stub area section 3 from the stub area section 4. Thereupon the strip so folded is again fan folded with each layer consisting in the present instance of five units in the container 5 from which in the conventional way the strip passes up between the guide loops 6 and I into the guide 8 into cooperation with the feed pins 9 which engage the feed pin receiving openings I0 and II. The openings I0 in the stub area 3 and the openings II in the stub area 4 are positoned so that they will register with one another, as shown in Fig. 2 so that each pin 9 will cooperate with the pair of openings III and II, that is, will engage a pair of registering openings I0 and II when the strip I is folded over, as shown in Fig. 1.

From the guide 8 the strip passes to and by the printing wheel I2 so that each'unit has impressed thereon the number of patrons for which the ticket 'is to be issued, the printing wheel for such number being selected according to the first embodiment of my copending application aforesaid. Thereupon, and after the length of ticket has been dispensed, which length corresponds to the number of patrons for which the ticket is to be issued, the knife I3 is actuated as disclosed in the first embodiment of my aforesaid co-pending application.

In Fig. 4 there is disclosed a machine similar to the second embodiment of my aforesaid patent application and which distinguishes mainly from the first embodiment in that the number impressed on the ticket corresponding to the number of patrons for which the ticket is issued, is not printed on each unit length but only on the last unit, see for instance the number 4 in the last area I4 0f the ticket I5 illustrated in Fig. 5. According to this embodiment also, the ticket strip I5 is preferably pre-folded as shown in Fig, 5, along the perforated boundary or intersection I6 prepared for folding or subsequent tearing between the stub areas I1 and I8 with pin receiving openings I9 in the stub area section I1, and pin receiving openings 20 in the stub area section I8. The opening I9 and 20 here too are preferably positioned in their respective stub areas I! and I8 to register with one another when the strip is folded over into the position shown in Fig. 5 so that the pins 2[ of the feeding mechanism shown in Fig. 4 will cooperate with the openings I9 and 20 so registering with one another to advance the folded strip I5 into cooperation with the printing hammer 22 and printing wheel 23, and similarly to discharge or dispense the length of strip corresponding to the number of patrons for which the ticket is to be issued determined by the ke 24 selected and depressed.

The stub area 3 is preferably marked with a striking color, as for instance red, to distinguish it from the color of the stub area 4, as for instance white. Preferably the stub area 3 has impressed thereon not only the serial number, as for instance the serial number 829 which must be identical with the serial number 829 of its associated white stub area 4, but in addition generally also has printed thereon the name of the theatre and the like. This red stub area 3 is the one according to the present method which is given by the doorman to the patron upon entering the theatre. The white stub area 4, on the other hand, ordinarily is free from any marking except the serial number, as an instance, the serial number 829 and 830, illustrated in Fig. 3, the free space so left being then available for use by the accounting department fOr making its notations.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the stub area I 'I to be retained by the patron similarly is illustrated as marked with the color red, and provided with printed matter such as the serial numbers and the name of the theatre. The stub area I8, on the other hand, of the strip I5 preferably is colored white as illustrated, and merely marked with the serial number and otherwise left blank for notations to be made thereon by the accounting depart- 'ment, the stub areas I] being intended for the patron and the stub areas 18. to be retained by the theatre.

Both the strip and the strip l preferably have the opposite faces of the stub areas marked with the same colors. In other words, the opposite faces of the stub areas 3 of th strip I are red, and the'opposite faces of the stub areas 4 are white, and in turn the opposite faces of the stub areas I! are red and th opposite faces of the stub areas l8 are white. As disclosed as an. instance in my co-pending application Serial No. 303,938, filed November 13, 1939, issued as Patent No. 2,238,724 the color of the stub areas 3 and I] may correspond to different prices exacted at different times.

.As illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 5, 6, and7 to 13 inclusive, different colors, symbols and combinations of colors and symbols may be used as part of the present improved ticket to facilitate auditing, and the intervention of theft, fraud and the like.

As an instance, as illustrated in my co-pending application for patent, Serial No. 303,938, filed November 13, 1939 issued as Patent No. 2,238,724, instead of red as the color for the sub area to be reserved for the patron to indicate that the ticket is to be used for the early or low priced session between 12 oclock noon and 3 p. m. in the afternoon, the stub area may be colored blue, as indicated by the stub area 25 of the embodiment illustrated in Fig, 9, to determine that the ticket is to be used for the later or medium priced session between 3 p. m. and 6 p. m., and in turn the stub area may be colored green, as

indicated'by the stub area 26 of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 10, to determine that the ticket is to be used for the highest priced session between 6 p. m. and the closing hour.

On the other hand, as pointed out in my copending application for patent, Serial No. 303,939, filed November 13, 1939, as a theft or fraud preventative so that counterfeit tickets can be readily intercepted, it has been customary to use tickets of different colors, and to select the tickets of a certain color for a certain day without prior notice to the employees, so that if counterfeits had been sold for a certain day of the wrong color, the watcher or inspector at the door can quickly intercept the same if the doorman should be an accomplice and attempt to accept such counterfeits. The present improved ticket lends itself particularly to fit in with such fraud intercepting expedients since here not only may the stub area, as an instance the stub area 21 of the ticket illustrated in Fig. 7 have different colors, but in addition the stub areas 28 to be retained by the treatre may have different symbols formed thereon, as an instance, an annular band 29, as illustrated in Figs, 7 and 8, or any of the other markings or symbols 30, illustrated in Fig. 8.

Preferably, the marking or the symbol such as the symbols 29 and 30 have the same color as the color of the adjacent stub area, that is, the color of the symbol 2.9 illustrated in Fig. 7 is the same as the stub area 21, to wit: red; the color of the symbol 3| in Fig. 91s the same color as the stub area 25, to wit: blue; and the color of the symbol 3.2 in Fig. is the same color as the stub area 25, to wit: green; so that if the color also is used to designate the price of the ticket, the stub areas retained by the theatre having the symbols 29, 3| and 32,'will at the same time through the color of the symbols indicate the price for which the ticket was sold. In this respect, the colors of these symbols 29, 3| and 32 correspond to the colored band or marking on the stub areas retained by the theatre, as illustrated in my co-pending application, Serial No. 303,939.

Aside from the foregoing, however, the addition of these symbols 29 and 30 of Fig. 8 also lends itself to other variations, modifications and combinations without departing from the general spirit of the invention. As an instance, the ticket 33 illustrated in Fig. 11 shows a ticket in which the number 4 printed by the machine illustrated in Fig. 4 is merely impressed in the last unit area of the stub area 34 reserved for the theatre, and the symbol 35 impressed only in the four unit areas 36 of the stub area 34. The symbol 35 is here also shown as of the same color, to wit: red, as that of the stub area 3'! to be reserved for the patron, and positioned in a column that is common to any other numbers that may be printed in this last unit area, depending upon the number of patrons for which the ticket is to be issued.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, on the other hand, the symbols 29 similarly are only impressed in the four unit areas 38 of the stub area 28, and have the same color, to wit: red, as that of the stub area 21, but thenumber 4 corresponding to the number of patrons for which the ticket is issued, is disposed in a predetermined column not common with that in which other numbers are printed and in each of the four unit areas 38 as is required when using the dispensing machine illustrated in Fig. 1.

In the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, on the other hand, there is formed in the stub areas'25 and 26 respectively, symbols cor responding in shape to the symbols 3| and 32 in the stub areas 39 and 40, respectively, see the symbols 4| and 42. The symbol 4|, however, here is indicated as white in color corresponding to the color of the stub area 39, and the symbol 42 likewise indicated as white in color, corresponding to the color of the stub area 40.

In Fig. 12, a strip 43 of theatre tickets is shown as initially prepared with a perforated line 44 extending through the center, the stub area 45 reserved for the patron colored red to distinguish it from the color white of the stub area 46 reserved for the theatre, and a succession of symbol-series starting with the circular bands 47 and continuing for 500 tickets, succeeded as an instance by a series of squares 48 and continuing for 500 tickets and so on, until a strip of five thousand tickets, as an instance, is printed.

. Here too, as is the case in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. '7, the color of the symbols 41, 48 and so on, is red, the same color as that of the stub area 45. y

In Fig. 13, the strip 49 there shown is illus trated as having been prepared not only with the adjacent colored stub areas 50 and 5|, the intersecting line 52, and the symbols 53, but also with the name of the theatre and the successive serial numbers of the successive tickets.

According to the present invention, the ticket strips 43 and 49 will be prepared in advance with the series of symbols succeeding one another differently for successive strips, with as many additional different symbols as desired, and in as many different combinations as desired so that no two strips of tickets at any time issued to a theatre will have the same succession of symbols so that in turn a wrongdoer, intending to pass counterfeit tickets, may have no advance information as to the symbols of the tickets being issued at any particular time of a day. Furthermore, since the combinations of colors for the symbols and stub areas may further vary, it may well be that a ticket having a predetermined combination of color and symbol may not be used at a particular theatre but once in several months and then only for a short period of a day, and that is when fifty lone tickets are being dispensed. The color and symbol combination here devised is obviously sufficiently conspicuous to facilitate watchers or spotters in the lobby of a theatre to detect counterfeits as quickly as presented.

It is obvious that the thickness of the material for the ticket strip must be determined not only in order to make the strip shape-retaining to facilitate distinguishing one stub area from the other, but also to offer sufficient resistance to the pressure exercised by the feeding pins such as the pins 9 and 2| when engaging the pin receiving openings H], II, I9, and 20 respectively, in the interest of an effective feed of the strip and to maintain the strip intact against tearing when the openings thereof are so engaged by pins 9 and 2|. Obviously, the thickness required to maintain the shape of the material while being handled ordinarily would be less than that required to feed the strip by means of pin receiving openings. On the other hand, when the strip is folded over as here required, the double thickness of the material increases the tear resisting characteristic of this strip when cooperating with the feed pins, and therefore a strip of material of much less thickness may be selected than that heretofore necessary without in any way impairing the eificiency of the strip either when fed through the machine or when ultimately dispensed as a ticket.

The ticket strip 54 shown in Fig. 14 is provided with still another series of symbols, as an instance, the triangles 55 of the stub areas 56 and triangles 51 of the stub areas 58, merely illustrative, however, of an arrangement in which the colored symbols 55 and the corresponding background color of the stub areas 58 is pre-printed or pre-formed before the ticket strip 54 has the printed matter formed thereon, or the pin receiving openings 59 formed therein, and in which the symbols 55 and are formed on the strip 54 disregardful of the unit areas determined as an instance by the serial numbers and pin openings 59. In other words, according to this arrangement, a single symbol 55 or 51 need not necessarily be located in the middle of a stub area of a unit area. While not necessarily so, it is preferable in some instances to have the symbols so formed that either two complete symbols, see the symbols 60 and BI of the ticket unit area bearing the serial number 1920 are formed in a single stub area, or else at least one symbol, see the symbol 62 of the stub area bearing the serial number "1040 and parts of two other symbols, to wit, the part 63 below the symbol 62 and the part 64 above the symbol 62 are'formed in a single stub area, to wit, the stub area 1040.

From this arrangement flow certain decided advantages. As an instance, the colored background of the stub area 58 and the colored symbols 55 of the stub area 56 may be printed or formed on the ticket strip 54 in advance without regard to the arrangement of the printed matter and serial numbers subsequently to be printed on the strip to determine the unit areas. Still furthermore, when the symbols are so arranged without regard to the unit areas, they serve to make each unit peculiar to itself in that no two unit areas will have the same arrangement of symbols formed thereon.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of the tickets and ticket strip without departing from the general spirit of the invention set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. A ticket strip having a succession of areas corresponding in total size to a multiple of a predetermined unit area corresponding in turn to a predetermined number of patrons, the succession of areas having a weakened tear defining line formed only longitudinally of the strip dividing the strip into two stub areas distinguished from one another by color, one stub area to be reserved for the theatre and the other for the patron, and feed pin receiving openings in each stub area of each unit area, the strip being folded along said tear defining line with the stub areas folded upon one another and the feed pin receiving openings positioned to register with one another, said strip possessing a stiffness in a longitudinal direction surficient to render it difficult manually to divide an associated set of successive unit areas.

2. A ticket strip having a succession of areas corresponding in total size to a multiple of a predetermined unit area corresponding in turn to a predetermined number of patrons, the succession of areas having a perforated, tear defining line formed only longitudinally of the strip dividing the strip into two stu areas distinguished from one another by color, one stub area to be reserved for the theatre and the other fOr the patron, and feed pin receiving openings in each stub area of each unit area, the strip being folded along said tear defining line with the stub areas folded upon one another and the openings positioned to register with one another, the weakness of the ticket at the perforated line not only facilitating the folding of the ticket along such line, but also cooperating with the folding to weaken the division between the adjacent stub areas in turn to facilitate tearing the ticket into its respective stub areas.

3. A ticket strip having a succession of areas corresponding in total size to a multiple of a predetermined unit area corresponding in turn to a predetermined number of patrons, the succession of areas having a weakened tear defining line formed only longitudinally of the strip dividing the strip into two stub areas distinguished from one another by color, one stub area to be reserved for the theatre and the other for the patron, feed pin receiving openings in each stub area of each unit area, the strip being folded along said tear defining line with the stub areas folded upon one another and the openings positioned to register with one another, said strip possessing stiffness in a longitudinal direction sufficient to render it difficult manually to divide an associated set of successive unit areas, and indicia formed thereon to indicate the number of patrons to be admitted.

4. A ticket strip having a succession of areas corresponding in total size to a multiple of a predetermined unit area corresponding in turn to a predetermined number of patrons,'the succession of areas having a weakened tear defining line formed only longitudinally of the strip dividing the strip into two stub areas distinguished from one another by color, one stub area to? be reserved for the theatre and the otherfor the patron, a feed pin receiving. opening. in, each stub area of each unitarea, thestrip beingfolded along said tear defining linewith the adjacent stub areas, of each unit area folded upon one another and the} openings positioned to register with one; another, said strip possessing stiffness in alongitudin'aldirection sufficient to render it difficult manually to divide an associated setof successive unit areas, and indicia formedin the last unit area to indicate the number. of patrons to be admittedon ,theticket. p

5. A ticket strip having a succession ofjare'as corresponding. in total size to .a'multiple of a predetermined unit area corresponding in turn to a predetermined numbjerjof patron's, the succession of areas having a weakenedtear defining une: formed only; longitudinally of the strip dividing'the strip into two stub areas distinguished from. one another by color, one stub area to be reserved. for the theatre and the other for the patron, a feed pin receiving opening in each stub area. of each unitarea, the strip being folded along said tear defining line with the adjacent stub areas ofeach unit area folded upon one another and the openings of adjacent stub areas positioned to register with one another, said strip possessing stitfnessin alongitu'di'nal direcpredetermined number of patrons, the successionof areas having a weakened tear definingfl-ine formed only longitudinally of thestrip dividing the strip into twostub areas distinguished from one. another by color, one stub area to be re served for the theatre and the other for the patron, a feed pin receiving opening. in each: stub area of each unit area, the strip-being folded along said tear defining line with the adjacent stub areas of each unit area foldedupononeanother and the openings of adjacent stub areas positioned to register with one another, said strip possessing stiffness in a longitudinal direction suflicientto render it difficultmanually to divide an associated set of successive unit areas, and one of a plurality of predetermined symbols in each unit area to facilitate distinguishing legitimate tickets from counterfeit tickets.

'7. A ticket strip having a succession of areas corresponding in total size to a multiple of a predetermined unit area corresponding in turn to a predetermined number of patrons, the succession of areas having a weakened tear defining line formed only longitudinally of the strip dividing the strip into two stub areas distinguished from one another by color, one stub area to be reserved for the theatre and the other for the patron, pin receiving openings in each stub area of each unit area, the strip being folded along said tear defining line with the stub areas folded upon one another and the openings positioned to register with one another, said strip possessing stiffness in a longitudinal direction sufiicient to render it difiicult manually to divide an associated set of successive unit areas, and one of a plurality of predetermined symbols in the stub area reserved for the theatre of each unit area, the color of the stub area reserved for the patron and the color of the 01 being the same to: correspond to a predetermined price for the ticket.

l 8. A ticket strip having a successionof areas corresponding intota'l size to -a multiple of a predeterminedun'i't area corresponding in turn to a predetermined-number of patrons, the succession of areas having a weakened tear defining lineforined onlyldng'itudinally of the strip dividing the strip ifitotwo, stub areas distinguished from oneanother color, one stub area to be reservedfor the theatre and the other for the patron, pin receiving openings in. each stub area of each unit area, the strip being folded along said tear defining" line with the stub areas folded upon one. another and the openings positioned to register with one another, said strip possessing stiffness in; a longitudinal direction sufficient to render it difii'cult manually to divide an associated setof successive unit areas, and one of a plurality of predetermined symbols of corresponding seriesin the stub area reserved for the theatre of each unit area, the color of the'stub area reserved for the patron and the color of the symbol being the same to correspond to a particular series.

9. A ticket strip having a succession of areas corresponding in total size to a multiple of a predetermined unitarea corresponding in turn to a predetermined number of patrons, the succession of areas having a weakened tear defining line only formed longitudinally of the strip dividing the strip into two stu-b areas distinguished from one another by color, one stubarea to be reserved for'the theatre and the other for the patron, pinreceivingopenings in each stub area of each unitarea, the strip being folded along said tear defining line with the stub areas folded upon one another and the openings positioned to register with one another, said" strip possessing stiffness in a longitudinal direction sufficient to render it difiicult manually to divide an associated set of successive unit areas, and symbols of one of a plurality of series in each stub area of each unitarea, the color of the stub area reserved for the patron and the color of the symbol for-inedin the stub area reserved for the theatre being the same and corresponding to a predetermined pricefor theticket, and thecolor of the stub area reserved for the theatre and the color of the symbol in the stub area reserved for the patron being the same.

10. A ticket strip composed of a shape retaining material having a succession of unit areas to be dispensed either as single tickets for the admission of one patron at a time, or as a succession of attached unit areas for the admission of a number of patrons corresponding to the number of attached unit areas, the strip being divided into two columns to divide the unit areas into two adjacent stub areas, the columns distinguished from one another by color, symbols of one of a plurality of series in each stub area of each unit area, the color of the symbol in the stub area reserved for the theatre corresponding to the color of the stub area reserved for the patron, and the color of the symbol in the stub area reserved for the patron corresponding to the color of the stub area reserved for the theatre, a perforated line weakening the strip only long-itudinally, the strip being more rigid and less bendable in all directions transverse to said perforated line, along the division between the two columns, feed pin receiving openings one in each stub area registering with one another when,

the strip is folded along the perforated line preparatory to feeding the strip through a ticket dispensing machine.

11. A ticket strip composed of a shape retaining material having a succession of unit areas to be dispensed either as single tickets for the admission of one patron at a time, or as a succession of attached unit areas for the admission of a number of patrons corresponding t the number of attached unit areas, the strip being divided into two columns to divide the unit areas into two adjacent stub areas, the columns distinguished from one another by color, symbols of one of a plurality of series in each stub area of each unit area, each stub area containing either two complete symbols of such series or one complete symbol and supplemental portions of another symbol of such series above and below the first uninterrupted complete symbol, the color of the symbol in the stub area reserved for the theatre corresponding to the color of the stub area reserved for the patron, and the color of the symbol in the stub area reserved for the patron corresponding to the color of the stub area reserved for the theatre, a perforated line weakening the strip only longitudinally, the strip being more rigid and less bendable in all directions transverse to said perforated line, along the division between the two columns, feed pin receiving openings one in each stub area registering with one another when the strip is folded along the perforated line preparatory to feeding the strip through a ticket dispensing machine.

12. A theatre ticket strip composed of a shape retaining material having two straight longitudinally extending machine-cut edges and a weakened line extending only longitudinally of and intermediate said longitudinally extending edges dividing the strip into two columns of stub areas, the color of one column being strikingly different from that of the other column, the strip being more rigid and less bendable in all directions transverse to said weakened line and being machine-cut along straight transversely extending lines into a succession of tickets, each ticket as initially machine-cut and issued corresponding in size to a multiple of transversely extending unit areas corresponding in number to the number of patrons for which the ticket is to be issued, the weakened line defining the division along which the ticket is to be torn into its respective stub areas and facilitating tearing the ticket along such line into its respective stub areas, one stub area to be reserved for the theatre and the other for the patron, said strip possessing a stiffness in a longitudinal direction sufiicient to render it diflicult manually to divide an associated set of successive unit areas issued as a ticket without visible evidence of the act of partitioning the ticket, whereby when an-associated set of successive unit areas is issued as a ticket and divided into its respective stub areas, each stub area will have threemachine-cut edges and one ragged. edge to cooperate with the color thereof readily to distinguish one stub area from the other when inspecting the edges of a stacked pile of stub areas, and a feed pin receiving opening in the stub area of each unit, the strip being folded along said weakened tear defining line with the adjacent stub areas of each unit folded upon one another and the feed pin receiving openings of adjacent stub areas, registering with one another so that the so registered feed pin openings of'adjacent stub areas will register with a feed pin of a dispensing machine and facilitate dispensing not only a ticket corresponding to a number of patrons, but also corresponding to a single patron, therigidity of the strip material itself cooperating with the double thickness when folded to resist wear when the ticket strip is being advanced by the engagement of feed pins with said feed pin receiving openings.

13. A ticket strip having a succession of areas corresponding in total size to a multiple of a predetermined unit area corresponding in turn to a predetermined number of patrons, the succession of areas having a weakened tear defining line formed only longitudinally of the strip dividing the strip into two stub areas, one stub area to be reserved for the theatre and the other for the patron, and feed pinreceiving openings in each stub area of each unit area, the strip being folded along said tear defining line with the stub areas folded upon one another and the feed pin receiving openings positioned to register with one another, said strip possessing a stiffness in a longitudinal direction sufiicient to render it diflicult manually to divide an associated set of successive unit areas.

BENJAMIN H. FREEDMAN. 

